Ointment-applicator



w. A. E. PFAFF.

OINTMENT urucnos.

APPLICATION H-LED JULYIO, 1919.

PatentedSept. 27,1921.

{PATENT OFFICE. I

WILLIAM A. E. PFAFF, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

OINTMENT-APPLICATOR.

Specification of Letters Tatent. Patented S t 27 1921 Application filed. July 10, 1919. Serial No. 309,864.

T 0 (AH whom it may concern .Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. E. PFAFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county ofJackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ointment-Applicators, of which the following is a specification.

his invention relates to ointment applicators and more especially to an instrument for applying ointment or the like in a treatment for piles or other diseased tissues or membranes in the rectum or other organ, and my object is to produce a device whereby ointment can be properly and uniformly applied to the diseased or inflamed tissues or membranes in a sanitaryway and easily and quickly. More specifically my object is to produce an applicator comprising a longitudinally channeled core having a conical or tapered dilator head and a smooth substantially rigid sheath for the channeled part to cover the charge of ointment as the instrument is inserted to the desired depth or position, and then be withdrawnto permit the tissues or membranes to contract slightly over and upon the core and the charge of ointment thereon and on the withdrawal of the core, to .wipe the ointment from the core and retain. such ointment.

To this end the inventionconsists in certain novel and useful features of construc tion and organization of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1, is a perspective view of the instrument, with the sheath in fully advanced position.

Fig. 2, is a central longitudinal section of the instrument.

Fig. 3, is a cross section of the instrument.

In the said drawing, a core of any suit able material susceptible of being easily cleansed, comprises a stem 1 having a tapered or conical dilator head 2 at its front end and a short threaded longitudinal socket 3 at its rear end, and also provided from the rear end to the head with a plurality of shallow longitudinal channels 4. Preferably there will be three of such channels of such width as to be spaced slightly apart by narrow unrecessed parts of the stem, and at the side margins the channels are gradually shallowe'd and merge into the spacing unrecessed portions of the stem so as to avoid any sharp or abrupt edges as indicated at 5, appearing most clearly in Flg. 3, and the front ends of the channels curve forwardly and outwardly and merge 1nto the stem adjacent the head as at .6, not only to avoid the production of any sharp or abrupt edges at such junction points, but to facilitate the removal of the charge of ointment hereinafter referred to, from the channels by the tissues or membranes being treated, it being also noted that the rear portion of the head is of slightly greater diameter than the stem but at the junction with the latter tapers inwardly to avoid the. production of any abrupt shoulder which might tend to abrade or possibly tear a tissue or membrane upon the withdrawal of the core from operative position.

The radii of the unrecessed portions of the core are preferably equal, and the depth of the channels is preferably the same, and j for fitting snugly and slidingly on the core, a thin cylindrical and substantially rigid sheath 7 is provided, the samebeing limited in its forward adjustment by contact with the head of the core which is of substant1ally the same diameter as the sheath. The latter is preferably of somewhat greater length than the stem of the core so that when the instrument is inserted to substantially the full depth of the sheath it shall be certain that. the full length of the core is in proper position for applying the ointment. A short handle in the form of a rod -8 having an eye 9 at its rear end, screws into the threaded socket in the core for convenience in inserting and removing the instrument. The said handle is made detachable from the core for conservation of space in an instrument case or for carrying in a pocket case and in shipment, it being noted that the distance between the rear end of the core and the eye or finger grip in the handle slightly exceeds the length of the sheath so that ointment may be spread in the channels without necessitating detachment of the handle. After the charge is supplied'to the core, the sheath is slid forward until arrested by contact with the head. The handle is then grasped with the thumb and finger against the rear end of the sheath for convenience in inserting the instrument into the rectum or other organ to be treated, in which operation the head spreads the tissues or membranes with the least possible discomfort to the patient and incidentally it tends to distend the passageway and smooth or unfold contracted tissue or membrane, that is in effect to distend the walls of the passageway. The operator then grasps the rear end of the sheath and withdraws the same to expose the core and permit the distended tissues or membranes to contract around and upon the core and engage the charge of ointment in the channels. The core can then be instantly withdrawn by pulling upon the handle, and in this action the tissues or membranes in effect'wipe the charge of ointment out of the channels and receive a uniform coating of the ointment for the full length of the channels, which coating due to the contraction of the tissues or membranes is spread over the entire surface of the treated part.

For convenience in withdrawing the sheath to expose the ointment for application, it is provided at its rear end with an external bead or flange 7 which flange also serves as a gage for limiting the insertion of the instrument.

As hereinbefore suggested the thumb and finger are applied against the rear end of the sheath in placing the instrument in operative position and an intelligent and careful operator will always follow this method to avoid any chance of'tissues being caught and pinched between the front end of the sheath and the head. If desired the rod may be providedwith a spring catch 10 over which the sheath may be slipped forward to cover the core, the catch being so positioned that the instant the sheath engages the head, it will snap outward and lock the sheath in such position, thus guardingagainst injury.

It will be seen that this instrument permits 'the operation described to be performed in a most sanitary andefiicient way as'well as with the least possible discomfort to the patient, and while the drawing illustrates the preferred construction of the device it is to be understood that it is susceptible of modification in minor particulars Without departing from the principle of construction involved or sacrificing any of the advantages of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An instrument of the jcharacter described, comprisinga channeled core having a head and a rigid sheath fitting slidingly on the core and bridging the channeled portion.

2. An instrument of the character described, comprising a channeled core having a head and a sheath fitting slidingly on the coreand bridging the channeled portion and limited in its forwardmovement by contact with said head.

3. An instrument of the character described, comprising a core having a plurality of longitudinal channels and a tapered head at the front ends of the channels, the latter at said lastnamed ends diminishing in depth, and a rigid sheath fitting slidingly on the core and bridging said channels and if siubstantially the same diameter as said 4:. An instrument of the character described, comprising a channeled core having a head and a rigid sheath fitting slidingly on the core and bridging the channeled portion, and a handle projecting longitudinally from the rear end of the core.

5. An instrument of the character described, comprising. a core consisting of a stem and a tapered head at the front end thereof, the rear end of the head being rounded and the stem having longitudinal channels of gradually diminishing depth at their front ends and of gradually diminishing depth at their side margins, a' sheath fitting snugly and slidingly on the stem and projecting beyond the rear end of the same and bearing at its front end against! the rear end of the head, and a longitudinal handle detachably connected to the rear end of the core.

6. An instrument of the character described comprising a channeled core having a head,'a sheath fitting slidingly on the core, a

a handle extending from the rear end of the core, and a spring-catch on the handle adapted to spring out and engage the rear end of the sheath and hold the front end of the same against the head of the core.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM A. E. PFAFF. 

